A Stormy 90th Birthday Celebration with a Sunny Twist

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When Lois Ephlin was here recently to celebrate her 90th birthday, it rained and rained and rained some more. It threw a wrench into one of the activities she had planned. 

But that's OK. As a Master Gardener, Lois can appreciate what a good downpour brings. And she can certainly teach us a thing or two about how to make the most of a rainy day.

Lois' four children and their spouses joined in on the
90th birthday festivities.
Most guests visiting French Lick Resort for the first time cast their gaze skyward to the magnificent architecture and history that emanate from West Baden and French Lick Springs Hotels. Lois — who picked French Lick/West Baden to commemorate her 90th since she'd never been here before — also had an interested eye on some of the 15-20 varieties of flowers beginning to reach full bloom around the resort. 

The plan was to tour the gardens and greenhouse during the West Baden Gardening Guidance course. Never mind the fact that given her background and the fact she still actively gardens at home, she could've led the class herself. She wanted to go just for the opportunity to see all the plants and flowers on the grounds.

Well, lightning and storms that day caused a wrinkle. But Lois still got her one-on-one with Todd Schrank, our resort groundskeeper who leads Gardening Guidance. Todd didn't want Lois' special plans to get washed out. So he stuck around and they improvised with a garden chat overlooking the gardens under the cover of the veranda. 

Turns out they both love fried pumpkin blossoms. ("Aren't those good?" Lois marveled when he brought it up.) They covered pretty much everything — from the tomatoes and cucumbers in Lois' home garden right now, to the flowers and plants that have been keeping Todd and his team busy. And yes, the cicadas that are in full force (and voice) on the West Baden grounds.

"He was very informative about all his work he has to accomplish around here, how much effort it takes, and time and planning to get plants here, to get plants raised. I’ve raised my own from seeds, and you have to have a lot of patience with plants," Lois says with a laugh. 

Lois was finally able to tour West Baden's European-style gardens with her family later in her visit — proving there's always a sunnier day to look forward to.